[interview] Empowering Personalized Care with Instant Microbiome Test + Derm-trained AI Advisor — Byome Labs Cosmetic Victories Profile

Globally, the market for customized skin care was valued at US $29.3 billion in 2024, per Future Market Insights (FMI). The firm projects this will grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2024 to 2034 to reach US $62.4 billion. Factors driving this growth include consumers who seek solutions to individual skin concerns as well as technological advances that enable customization. 

FMI adds that collaboration between skin care brands, technology companies and industry experts will push innovation limits in this space. New product formulations, delivery systems and customization options will also evolve to meet changing consumer needs.

Byome Labs, a Chartres, France-based deep-tech startup with expertise in microbiology, is empowering personalization with its instant microbiome test solution: Byome Derma. The innovation is designed to assess an individual's skin microbiome at the point of sale and make individualized recommendations. 

This concept was honored as a finalist in the 2025 Cosmetic Victories "industrial" category. Here, Byome Labs revealed deeper insights into the technology.

Derm-trained AI for Instant Skin Microbiome Assessment

"Our innovation is Byome Derma, the world’s first instant skin microbiome testing solution designed for use directly at the point of sale or in professional settings," the company explained. "The kit allows a quick and device-free measurement of an individual’s skin microbiome in just a few minutes."

Using technology similar to a COVID antigen test, the kit measures 25 different skin parameters in real time. The results are interpreted using a dermatologist-trained AI that recommends the most compatible cosmetic or dermocosmetic products for that individual's microbiome profile.

"Traditionally, microbiome analysis requires complex laboratory equipment, DNA sequencing and long turnaround times," Byome Labs explains. "Byome Derma disrupts this model with a rapid, accessible and consumer-friendly approach that maintains scientific rigor."

The innovation aims to bridge the gap between advanced microbiome science and everyday beauty experiences. According to the Byome Labs website, today, 70% of cosmetic products are thrown away by consumers, often due to incompatibility with their skin. 

The microbiome is the missing element in understanding this incompatibility, providing the link between the skin and the products applied. "The science of the microbiome is poised to revolutionize the cosmetics industry, bringing ultra-personalization to products," the company states.

"We believe [Byome Derma] will redefine how products are tested, recommended and marketed," the company continued, "moving the industry away from intuition or influence, toward evidence-based personalization."

Ultimately, per the company, the technology can empower brands to deliver personalized, microbiome-relevant skin care recommendations instantly, enhancing consumer trust, loyalty and satisfaction.

Designing Accessible, Reliable Tests to Ensure Relevant Care

"The science of the microbiome is poised to revolutionize the cosmetics industry, bringing ultra-personalization to products." Pictured: behind the scenes at Byome LabsImage courtesy of Byome Labs

According to Byome Labs, the idea for Byome Derma emerged from years of microbiome research alongside direct collaborations with cosmetic brands. "We observed a critical gap: consumers were overwhelmed by thousands of product choices, while nearly 40% of skin care purchases are reported to be unsuitable for their skin," the company explained. 

"This not only creates dissatisfaction, but also contributes to massive waste in the cosmetics industry — over US $450 billion in products are wasted annually worldwide." The company therefore focused on creating a solution that would bring microbiome science "out of the lab and into the hands of consumers," making personalization immediate, reliable and sustainable.

One of the main challenges was to design a system that was scientifically robust yet simple enough to be used outside the laboratory in a retail environment. "Ensuring accuracy, reproducibility and stability of the reagents while creating an elegant, consumer-friendly format required extensive iteration," Byome Labs explained. 

Byome Derma's success was reportedly made possible by the multidisciplinary expertise of the team, combining microbiology, immunology, genetic engineering, biofilm biology and artificial intelligence. In addition, partnerships with institutions such as the Institut Pasteur and industrial collaborators supported the ability to merge cutting-edge science with practical design.

Scientific Excellence Meets Consumer Impact

"From the Cosmetic Victories competition, we hope to gain recognition of Byome Derma as a breakthrough innovation that combines scientific excellence with consumer impact," Biome Labs highlighted, adding it is also an opportunity to engage with leading stakeholders in the beauty industry and build strong partnerships for deployment.

"From our broader work, our ambition is to establish new standards in microbiome testing and product recommendation — reducing waste, increasing product efficacy and accelerating the transition toward transparent, microbiome-respecting beauty," the company explained. 

"Ultimately, we envision a future where personalized skin microbiome testing becomes as routine as a beauty consultation, shaping the next generation of cosmetics."